A VOLUNTEER from Bromsgrove has run 58 miles to raise money for Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS).

Hannah Bawdon, 44, is a consultant anaesthetist at Birmingham City Hospital and volunteers at MARS as a pre-hospital doctor.

She launched a Just Giving page to raise money for the charity while undertaking the Montane Spine Challenger, a 108-mile race with a time limit of 60 hours. 

Chairman of Trustees for MARS, Mark Wheeley, said: “I am in awe of those that are taking on this enormous 108-mile challenge, and the fact that Hannah has chosen to use the opportunity to raise money for MARS is just fantastic.

"The race was a 108 mile, rough terrain race along the Pennine way between Edale and Hawes.

"Unfortunately, the conditions during the race were appalling, with wind, snow, ice, deep water, bogs and sub-zero temperatures to contend with.

"Despite a heroic effort, sadly Hannah had to retire after 58 miles.

"We are still extremely proud of her and she has raised an amazing sum for MARS.

“As a MARS doctor myself, I’m extremely grateful to Hannah for helping us to keep all of our responders operational.

“To continue to provide enhanced medical care to patients before they reach a hospital, supporting our Ambulance Service colleagues, we must be able to deliver high quality and up to date service.

“This means we need to have access to vital equipment such as defibrillators, monitoring equipment, portable ultrasound scanners, anaesthetic equipment, protective clothing and so on.”

Hannah, from Bromsgrove, has managed to raise £1,350, exceeding her £1,000 target.

Mr Wheeley added: “Unfortunately, all of this is very expensive, and we are dependent on fundraising to provide us with these facilities for providing high-quality patient care.

“As Chairman of the Trustees, I’m sure I speak for all of our responders and trustees alike when I emphasise just how grateful we are to Hannah for her support."

On her Just Giving page, Hannah said: "I have run a couple of ultras, but nothing as big as this.

"108 miles up the Pennine Way in the depths of winter!

"The terrain is undulating, exposed and boggy, the weather is brutal and support is minimal.

"There is just 1 proper checkpoint, 46-ish miles into the race.

"Training has been interrupted by injury, but I am back on track and determined, with the support of my fantastic PT and crazy boot camp friends.

"I am fundraising for MARS, a charity I have joined as a volunteer prehospital doctor.

"MARS is a group of highly trained and experienced pre-hospital practitioners (a mixture of doctors and advanced clinical practitioners) which exists in order to deliver enhanced immediate medical care to the people of Herefordshire and Worcestershire."

Hannah began to complete this challenge on Saturday, January 8 and had a maximum of 60 hours to race the 108 miles.

MARS is a registered charity that delivers immediate medical care to the people of Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

To donate to Hannah's cause, click here.